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About this project

Do it now. If you ever want to do something in life, e.g., follow a passion, reach a goal, talk to that cute girl 2 seats in front of you, my advice is to do it now. Today, I’ve finally worked up the courage to follow my own simple, advice.

For the past 5 years I was an experience designer at a global marketing agency, working on million dollar accounts. I landed that job after completing a master’s degree. Now, it is all history.

For as far back as I can remember, I've spent the majority of my time doing things in which I had marginal interest. I spent very little time on what is most important to me, music. I've decided to no longer hide my true passion and to do what my heart has been telling me to do with my life. Today, I am officially a full time independent artist.

To kick start my new career, I want to produce an album. This album will encompass ideas that give me the courage to carry forward. I have titled this album “Transcend”. In it I will attempt to rise above the norms, challenge the status quo and, hopefully, provoke thought.

Transcend represents the freedom to choose a new path, be afraid, face that fear and come out alive. It also represents the freedom to do all those things now.

I have the idea, passion and drive to complete this album. I just need one more thing, you guys. My fundraising goal is to reach 30 thousand dollars. If we can do this I can produce and market the highest quality album possible, shoot a dope music video, and have it all ready to deliver to you by this fall.

In the midst of a very strong and lucrative career I quit to submerge myself in the art of making music. Why? Because I have a message that the world needs to hear.

If you believe in, not just talking about your passion, but putting those words into action, then please back Transcend today.

The Album & Budget

Transcend will be a full length album with 15 tracks. Below is a breakdown of how I intend to use the money raised by you guys.

Production, $7,600 - Recording the album in professional studio, getting it professionally mixed and mastered. Purchasing beats from talented independent producers from around the world, including Teck-Zilla, Trebles and Blues, Lurrachi and others.

Music Video, $5,000 - I will team up with StrangeOutsider once again to produce dope video (as they usually do).

Producing, Packaging and Printing Merch, $5,000 - I'll be printing a limited number of CDs, posters, custom USBs, t-shirts and hoodies for the album. This cost also includes getting a creative illustrator, like Ernie Parada, for the art.

Marketing/Advertising, $10,000 - I will use this portion of the budget to fund ad campaigns on popular social media platforms (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter), emerging internet radio platforms (EarBits, Jango), and niche underground hip-hop blogs (2DopeBoys, RapRadar and more). This 360 approach will give me the visibility I need to spark an interest with hip-hop heads across the globe.

KickStarter & Amazon Payment Processing Fees, $2,400 - If I get funded, KickStarter and Amazon wil be paid a percentage of the total amount for providing me with the mechanism in which to raise funds.

My Music

It’s one thing to follow your dream, but it’s another thing to do it foolishly. An obvious question that you may have is, “can this guy actually make good music?” The answer is YES!

Since I was young I've strived for excellence in everything I touched. From my education to my time in working in Corporate America, I've been among the best. Now that I have more time to focus on my craft there is no doubt that I will achieve similar results in music.

In the past, during all my free time, I was able to hone in my skills as a hip-hop artist. I wrote a ton songs and recorded them in my home studio. During that time I was able to fall into a style of hip-hop music that I like to call thoughtful rap — sometimes intellectual, sometimes funny, but always thoughtful.

Risks and challenges

After I get funded there is nothing that can stop me from fulfilling all that I have set out to do.

If there are any setback or unforeseen obstacles, it will be communicated as soon as it happens and a plan of action to deliver the album, in spite of any complications, will be announced.

Working in Corporate America with multi-million dollar clients has taught me to never go back on my promises. Now I work for you guys and there is no hurdle that I cannot overcome to successfully create and deliver this album to you.

FAQ

Rewards

$1 reward

Get a "Thank You" shout out from me on Facebook and Twitter + a digital download of Transcend on the day that it is released.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

You selected

$5 reward

8 backers

SHINING LIGHT PACKAGE

Get a digital download of Transcend on the day that it's released + a digital download of my last two EPs (Ctrl Alt Delete and InspiREYtion EP)

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

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$10 reward

16 backers

ADVOCATE PACKAGE

Shining Light + An advanced digital download of Transcend.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

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$25 reward

19 backers

FREE MAN PACKAGE

Advocate + A signed limited KickStarter edition of the album poster + A limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend CD delivered to you when the album is released.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

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$50 reward

6 backers

FREEDOM FIGHTER PACKAGE

Free man + A limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend T-Shirt delivered to you when the album is released.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

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$100 reward

11 backers

DEFENDER OF TRUTH PACKAGE

Free man + A limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend T-Shirt + A limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend Hoodie + A limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend USB loaded with the Transcend Album and my two previous EPs, Crtl Alt Delete and InspiREYtion

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$250 reward

0 backers
Limited (25 left of 25)

CHAMPION OF HONOR PACKAGE

Defender of Truth + 3 additional limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend USB loaded with the Transcend Album and my two previous EPs, Crtl Alt Delete and InspiREYtion + Your name listed on a Thank You post on my website with a link to your Twitter or Facebook page.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$500 reward

0 backers
Limited (10 left of 10)

BROTHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS PACKAGE

Defender of Truth + 10 additional limited KickStarter edition of the Transcend USB loaded with the TranscendAlbum and my two previous EPs, Crtl Alt Delete and InspiREYtion + Executive Producer Credit on the Transcend album + Handwritten "Thank You" letter delivered to an address you supply

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$750 reward

0 backers
Limited (5 left of 5)

IMAGE OF VIRTUE PACKAGE

Brother of Righteousness + Access to my Google Docs folder containing all my lyrics to the songs of this album, updated as I write them.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$1,000 reward

0 backers
Limited (3 left of 3)

PERPETUAL ILLUMINATING INTEGRITY

Image of Virtue + A "This entire project was made in part by..." credit on the album.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$10,000 reward

0 backers
Limited (1 left of 1)

NO WORDS... YOU'RE JUST F-ING AWESOME PACKAGE

Perpetual Illuminating Integrity + I will write a song about ANYTHING you would like and put it on the album.This song will be dedicated to you. I'll include an intro where I call you out as my inspiration for creating the song and you'll be able to give the song its name.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Jun 28, 2013 - Jul 28, 2013
(30 days)

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